While the Celtics and Lakers are garnering all the great expectations contenders inherit during the offseason, other teams are content to be discounted.
There’s an advantage to being underestimated, as the Spurs, who have been “getting older” for the last 5 years (and three championships), will tell you.
Clubs that don’t merit consideration in this article are those that weren’t enormously successful last year but that are definitely being watched this season (ex. Portland, Orlando, etc.)
Last year, the Hornets and Sixers did better than a lot of pundits expected of them. Who can we look to for unforeseen success this season? Here’s a few teams to consider…
Toronto Raptors
Last season, the Raptors were a decent club, but soft in play, especially in the middle. Orlando’s Dwight Howard dominated Toronto in the first round of the playoffs to the tune of 22.6 pts and 18.2 rbs per game, and the Magic made short work of them.
Raptors GM Bryan Colangelo chose to roll the dice, dealing for Indiana’s talented, albeit injury-prone Jermaine O’Neal in hopes of giving All-Star forward Chris Bosh a formidable partner on the front line.
When healthy, O’Neal is a legit low-post scorer, rebounder and shot-blocker. It’s the “when healthy” caveat that makes this deal a gamble.
Colangelo does deserve kudos for this trade, as it indirectly solidified Toronto’s point guard situation. With T.J. Ford now in a Pacers’ uniform, Spaniard stud Jose Calderon will be free to run the offense, which he does with uncanny efficiency (8.3 assists in only 30 minutes per game, with a 5.38 assist-to-turnover ratio).
- B/R Ticket Guide
O’Neal isn’t the only “if” the team has. Third-year forward Andrea Bargnani has a lot to prove after his step backwards last season. Jamario Moon will need to show he’s more than a slam-dunk contest participant. Jason Kapono has to take advantage of the open looks he’ll get from the O’Neal/Bosh tandem.
If those things happen, the Raptors might not be extinct when the dust settles in the East.
Phoenix Suns
The franchise faces dominate the perception of this team. Steve Nash, Shaquille O’Neal, Grant Hill, Raja Bell…in other words, pundits think this team is waning, old, and on its way out of relevancy.
Management managed to somewhat address this issue over the summer, however. The Suns are hoping two rookies, Robin Lopez from Stanford and Goran Dragic from Slovenia, will spell O’Neal and Nash respectively coming off the bench.
Ditto for former Warrior Matt Barnes, who may actually replace Hill in the starting lineup.
While the bench itself is beefier, the biggest factor in its effectiveness will be how new head coach Terry Porter chooses to implement it. How quickly will he want to throw the rookies into the fire? Will he trust them to learn from their mistakes, or the Suns to win without Nash playing prime-time minutes 82 games a year?
Perhaps the biggest factor for the Suns to remain above mediocrity is the progress of their young core of Amare Stoudemire, Leandro Barbosa, and Boris Diaw.
Will Stoudemire’s defense consist of more than weak-side shot-blocking and weak one-on-one positioning? Can Barbosa harness the reckless energy with which he plays? Will the real Boris Diaw please stand up?
There’s so much potential for success and failure on this team, it’s hard to predict whether the Suns will rise or fall in 2008-09. If the aforementioned factors turn in their favor, though, the Suns could have more postseason success than the run-and-gun versions that preceded them.
Los Angeles Clippers
If there’s one thing the rest of the NBA should know, it’s this: don’t sleep on Baron Davis.
Yes, the Clippers lost Elton Brand after nabbing Davis from Golden State. Take a closer look though, and you’ll see the Clips have a more well-rounded roster than the 2007 playoff darlings from Oakland.
Brand is gone, but former Denver Nugget Marcus Camby is probably the best consolation prize they could’ve hoped for in exchange for practically nothing. Camby’s athleticism will allow him to play power forward alongside center Chris Kaman, giving the Clippers a frontcourt tandem that averaged a combined 25.8 boards per game last season.
Rebounds lead to fast breaks, and Davis has the chance to run the most dangerous break since Shaq arrived in Phoenix.
Al Thornton will be entering his second year after averaging an encouraging 12.7ppg and 4.5rpg in his rookie year. This year’s rookie, gunner Eric Gordon, figures to get plenty of free reign on a team with few expectations. And the Clips signed swingman Ricky Davis away from Miami, placing him in the much more suitable role of sparkplug off the bench.
It’ll be interesting to see how coach Mike Dunleavy will get all the new parts to mesh together, and by the time he figures it out, it may be too late in the Western Conference. If the “Davis Effect” takes hold in L.A., though, the Lakers may not be the only team in town worth watching.
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about 1 month ago
You might want to fix 'Christ' Kamen.
about 1 month ago
Lol @ Christ Kamen.
Good article though! I'd like to see the Raps and the Suns do big things this year. I'm a little skeptical about the Clippers, since they are the Clippers and all, but good read all around.
about 1 month ago
These are terrible choices for sleeper picks. The Suns will barley make the playoffs, the Clippers won't make it and the Raptors are only a good team who will be a bottom seed.
from about 1 month ago
That's why they call them sleepers. . . because people like you don't think they will do good this year.
about 1 month ago
I think a good choice for sleeper team is the Magic...everyone seems to sleep on them..
about 1 month ago
I guess it depends how you define a sleeper but I'd have to say Miami and Milwaukee would be sleepers too because neither lost important pieces over the summer and both gained a lot. Healthy D-Wade brings the Heat back into contention and Richard Jefferson and Scott Skiles will make the Bucks a "team".
about 1 month ago
i wouldnt consider the suns or the sixers sleepers becasue they both have very high expectations to meet...
about 1 month ago
Chicago is another good choice..
about 1 month ago
I doubt anyone will sleep on the suns, their core has 3 ROYs, 2 MVPs and 2-4 HOFs. Also none of them participated in the Olympics, so hopefully they were all playing together... well Shaq was freestylin' about Kobe and counting his days until retirement, but he's Shaq.
about 1 month ago
I'm telling you the Kings will be battling for a playoff spot as well. They are just using the Moore-Miller front line to catch everyone napping and motivate Shelden Williams. They will be using Williams and Brad Miller. They had absolutely no d last year and finished .500. With Williams took 3 years at Duke to average 20/10/3+ blocks (an incredible 21/11/4blocks his senior year and nearly final 4). This is his 3rd year and he is ready to breakout 15/10/2 blcks. This team is full of scorers: Martin, Salmons, Garcia, Udrich, Jackson, Douby, Greene, Hawes, and Thompson. The Kings formula for success:
Good Passing Big Guys + Lots of Scorers + Solid Defense = Lots of Wins
Last year their team D was worse with Artest. He was great one on one, but not a PF team defender (He and Moore only had over 1 block per game between them both, as Miller by himself). Same with the O, Artest sucked the life out of it too mostly because he felt he was the only option, he will be a better fit in Houston. Same with Miller he struggles when he is the #1 big guy, with Williams behind him expect him to play tougher also and more ball movement on offense. You are sleeping on the Kings, but I don't know if the Miller/Williams thing will take 2 years to gel to become legit contenders, they will just be battling for a playoff spot this year if they play solid defense.
Suns have an old All Star team, the Cippers were a playoff team last year, are Toronto with Bosh and ONeal are not teams people are sleeping on. Maybe the Clips because they lost Brand, the other 2 are legit contenders but all 3 have playoff expectations.
I would say Memphis and Milwaukee (and Kings) are teams no one expects much from and will be better than you think.
Miami is expected to be successful with a healthy DWade but Riley often runs his guys in the ground for wins. With no PG he may have to carry too big a load also, with could lead to more injuries after also playing in the Olympics. Not getting DWade hurt would be their team goal this year. So they can bring in a solid Point Guard next year when Marion leaves.
about 1 month ago
The Clips didn't make the playoffs last year, and I think the Kings will be bottom 5 in the league.
about 1 month ago
Its 10-11-08 and im late to reply. The Clippers just played their first pre-season game vs the Lakers on thursday and although its only an exhibition game, The Clippers came out hot!!
All this doubt about team chemistry was put to rest. Baron Davis played 17 minutes and finished with 12 points and 7 assists. Jason Hart was very solid and knocked down some jump shots.
Mike Taylor finished with 20 points and played well over all.
Final score 107-80 , Clippers' bench owned the Lakers' bench . Clips offense was flowing nicely and they went 8-21 from 3 point range.
I feel that the Clips are very under rated , which will be good as they go through the season under the radar and hopefully prove evrey one wrong. SLEEPER team for sure!
about 1 month ago
It's 10-19-08 and I'm REALLY late to reply. I just wanted to say that I think Matt Barnes should come off the bench; it gives Phoenix more firepower.
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